GRADUATE STUDENT RESOURCES

Current Graduate Students

All graduate students enrolled in the M.S. and Ph.D. programs in the Department of Biology should familiarize themselves with the documents and forms below.

If you have specific questions relating to graduate program requirements, or the completion of any the forms below, please contact the Biology Graduate Program Administrator, Lynn Fall (LSC 114, 315.443.9154, lfall@syr.edu).

Appendix H: Annual Graduate Student Progress Report This form is to be completed annually (near the end of the Spring semester) by the student, and then reviewed and signed by the student's Advisor. The due date for completion of this form is April 15th.

**NEW FORM** Biology Graduate Student Advising Summary This form is to be completed near the end of the Fall and Spring semesters for 1st-year and 2nd-year graduate students, and near the end of the Spring semester only for graduate students who are in their 3rd year or above. The completed form is reviewed and signed by the student's Advisor. The due dates for completion of this form are November 15th (Fall semester) and April 15th (Spring semester).

Graduate Program Plan Transfer Form This form (also referred to as an "internal transfer form") is completed whenever a student switches between the Biology M.S. and Ph.D. programs. It may also be used when switching into the Biology graduate program from a graduate program in another academic department at Syracuse University, or when switching out of the Biology graduate program into a graduate program in another academic department at Syracuse University. After obtaining the required signatures (from both the old and new departments, if changing departments), the completed form is submitted to the Registrar's Office (106 Steele Hall).

Graduate Enrollment Internal Admission Application This form (also referred to as an "internal admit form") is completed whenever a student: 1) is currently pursuing one graduate degree program and wishes to pursue another graduate degree program (or a certificate program) at the same time (i.e., a "CONCURRENT" program); -or- 2) is about to complete one graduate degree program (or has completed a graduate degree program in the last 12 months) and wishes to subsequently begin pursuing another graduate degree program (i.e., a "CONSECUTIVE" program). After obtaining the required signatures (from both the current and the new departments, if concurrent; or from just the new department, if consecutive), the completed form is mailed to the Graduate Admissions Enrollment Management Processing Center (716 East Washington Street, Suite 200, Syracuse NY 13210).

Certification of Full-Time Status for Matriculated Graduate Students This form is used by a student who is not a Teaching Assistant, Research Assistant, or Fellow, for each semester during which the student is registered for 0 or more credits, but fewer than 9 credits, and is actively working on a thesis or dissertation (referred to as "all but dissertation" or "ABD" status). The form is completed electronically, and then submitted to the Registrar's Office in 106 Steele Hall (and also to the Slutzker Center for International Services for international students) after obtaining the signature of the Biology Department Chair or Graduate Program Director. PLEASE NOTE: The deadline for this form is the same as the "Financial Drop Deadline" for the semester in which full-time status is being certified.

Petition to Faculty This form is used whenever a student is requesting approval for something outside the normal program or course requirements. The form is completed electronically, and then submitted to the Biology Department Graduate Program Administrator, Lynn Fall (LSC 114, 315.443.9154, lfall@syr.edu) after obtaining the required signatures (student, advisor, and course instructor, if applicable). Completed petitions are reviewed by the Biology Graduate Education Committee, who will make a decision whether or not to approve the petition.

Proposal for Independent Study Course This form is used by new Biology graduate students who are doing lab rotations to register for BIO 610 (Graduate Research Laboratory). The form is also used when registering for BIO 688 (Biological Literature) and BIO 690 (Independent Study). The form is completed electronically, and then printed and signed by the student's Research Advisor and/or Faculty Sponsor for the course. After obtaining the required signatures, please see the Biology Department Undergraduate Academic Support Coordinator, Billie Trapani (LSC 114, 315.443.9139, batrapan@syr.edu), who will assign a student-specific permission number which will enable you to complete the course registration in MySlice.

Inter-Institutional Graduate Course Registration Form This form is used by Biology graduate students who wish to register for courses at SUNY Upstate Medical University. For assistance in completing this form, please see the Biology Department Graduate Program Administrator, Lynn Fall (LSC 114, 315.443.9154, lfall@syr.edu). After obtaining the required signatures from the Biology department and the Syracuse University Registrar's Office (106 Steele Hall), the completed form is taken to the SUNY Upstate Medical University College of Graduate Studies office (Weiskotten Hall, Room 3114).

Do You Plan to Defend and/or Graduate This Semester?

Students who intend to defend and/or graduate by the end of the current semester are expected to comply with all Biology Department and Syracuse University requirements in order to meet eligibility requirements for graduation. This includes the submission of several signed forms before specific deadlines (see below). It is the student's responsibility to be aware of all requirements, and to anticipate any relevant form deadlines, well in advance of the date of their scheduled thesis or dissertation defense and/or graduation date. It is also very important for the student to be in frequent contact with their Advisor throughout their final semester, as they prepare for their defense and for graduation.

The Biology Department has created a checklist to help students to prepare for their final semester, for their defense, and for graduation:

Syracuse University Graduate School:

The Syracuse University Graduate School (304 Lyman Hall) manages all official documents associated with a student's thesis or dissertation defense, and also certifies that a student has fulfilled all relevant eligibility requirements for graduation and a diploma.

Please refer to the following links on the Syracuse University Graduate School website, which will help you to ensure that you meet each of the necessary requirements (before the associated deadline, where applicable):

Forms:

Request for Diploma DEADLINE: Fall graduates are expected to file their Request for Diploma in early November. Spring and Summer graduates are expected to file their Request for Diploma in mid-February. Refer to Qualifications for Commencement Participation for specific deadlines.

Students must submit their Request for Diploma electronically via MySlice. To access this feature, after logging into MySlice, in the horizontal navigation menu at the top of the page, click on File Diploma Request.

Program of Study Form Even if this two-page form has been submitted previously, a final version will need to be submitted again prior to graduation. All courses which fulfill the degree requirements are listed on this form (including transfer credit, if applicable). The form is completed electronically, and then submitted to the Syracuse University Graduate School (304 Lyman Hall) after obtaining signatures from the student's Advisor and the Biology Department Chair or Graduate Program Director.

Important notes for completing the Program of Study Form:

BIO 997 (Master's Thesis) or BIO 999 (Dissertation) credits should be listed at the bottom of the second page, under Thesis/ Dissertation Credit Hours.

GRD 998 (Degree in Progress/ 0 credits) should not be listed on this form.

Request for Examination DEADLINE: The signed form must be submitted at least three weeks prior to the defense date. This form is completed electronically, and then submitted to the Syracuse University Graduate School (304 Lyman Hall), after obtaining the signature of the student's Advisor and the Biology Department Chair. The student will enter the names and e-mail addresses of the members of their Oral Defense Committee, along with the thesis/dissertation title and defense date, time and location. Department approval is granted after your Advisor and your reader(s) notify the Graduate Program Administrator (in writing) that your defense may proceed.

Survey of Earned Doctorates (Ph.D. students only) Ph.D. students are expected to complete this online survey as part of the Syracuse University Graduate School requirements.

Last Semester Memo (international students only) All international students must complete this form during their last semester, and should do so as early as possible during the semester. The form is completed electronically, signed by the Biology department, and then submitted to the Slutzker Center for International Services (310 Walnut Place).

Last Day to Submit Final Documents:

Students intending to graduate should be aware of the following deadlines for submitting their final documents to the Syracuse University Graduate School (304 Lyman Hall). These documents include the following:

More Graduate Student Resources

Travel Support If you are interested in departmental support for travel expenses related to a research conference at which you are presenting, contact the Biology Graduate Program Administrator, Lynn Fall (LSC 114, 315.443.9154, lfall@syr.edu). Limited funds are available each year on a first-come, first-serve basis. The Syracuse University Graduate Student Organization (GSO) also has travel funds available. All applicants for travel support from the Biology Department are also expected to apply for travel support from the GSO (GSO travel grant application instructions and deadlines).

Syracuse University Graduate School Located in Lyman Hall, the Graduate School is the central administrative office for all matters related to graduate study at Syracuse University, including policies, standards, and the certification of graduate-level degrees.

Syracuse University Graduate Student Organization (GSO) The Graduate Student Organization is a campus-wide student organization specifically for graduate students at Syracuse University.

Additional On-Campus Resources for Syracuse University Graduate Students The Syracuse University Graduate School has compiled a listing of additional on-campus resources which are available to graduate students at Syracuse University.

Syracuse University Libraries The Syracuse University Libraries have a number of resources which may be of particular value to Ph.D. and M.S. Biology students. Click here for more information about the available resources, or contact the Biology librarian, Emily Hart (ekhart@syr.edu, 315.443.2403, Carnegie Library).

Skills for Success in Academia During a graduate seminar held at Syracuse University in the Spring of 2012, resources and tips for success were identified and developed, and then made available on a central website: Skills for Success in Academia.

Job Search Resources and Career-Related Services for M.S. and Ph.D. Students at Syracuse University